Public Peace Corps information session to be held at Shawnee State University

Public Peace Corps information session to be held at Shawnee State University

Date

November 9

Information

A public Peace Corps information session will be held at 7 pm on Nov. 9 in the
University Center.

Katie Sylvester, Peace Corps recruiter, will present a public Peace Corps information
session at Shawnee State University at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9, in room 215 in the
University Center.

Sylvester, a Cincinnati-based recruiter, will share personal stories and professional
benefits of living in an international community and benefits of volunteering to make
a difference through the Peace Corps.

Sylvester will talk about how Peace Corps volunteers make a difference in the areas
of education (teaching English, math and science), agriculture, forestry and environment,
public health, HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention and information technology.

“Peace Corps service offers a unique combination of international experience and rewarding
work,” says Sylvester. “It changed my perspective of the world and allowed me to grow
personally and professionally. It underscores your commitment and dedication and your
ability to adapt, problem-solve and work across cultures.”

Volunteers gain language, technical and cross-cultural skills that benefit them for
advanced professional and educational opportunities. They can also be eligible for
graduate school benefits, paid living expenses, full health and dental coverage in
service, vacation days and more.

As the preeminent international service organization of the United States, the Peace
Corps sends Americans abroad to tackle the most pressing needs of people around the
world. Volunteers work at the grassroots level with local governments, schools, communities,
small businesses and entrepreneurs to develop sustainable solutions that address challenges
in education, health, economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development.
Upon their return back to the U.S., volunteers can share their knowledge and experiences
enriching the lives of those around them. President John F. Kennedy established the
Peace Corps in 1961 to foster a better understanding among Americans and the people
of other countries. Since then, more than 215,000 Americans of all ages have served
in 139 countries worldwide.

Sylvester is seeking college seniors, graduates, retiring faculty and community members
with majors and skills in these areas to fill Peace Corps programs. She recommends
students interested in the Peace Corps to visit www.peacecorps.gov/openings to find application deadlines. For additional information about the Peace Corps,
please visit www.peacecorps.gov.

Dr. Tracey Henderson, Coordinator for the SSU International Service and Peace Corps
Preparation Program (“Peace Corps Prep”), will also be at the session to talk to students
interested in applying to the Peace Corps.

Dr. Henderson served as a Peace Corps volunteer for three years in Zaire (now the
Democratic Republic of the Congo) where she taught animal science in an agricultural
high school and served as a livestock extension agent working with cattle farmers.
She also returned to Zaire during graduate school to train new volunteers.

“I served in the Peace Corps right after college and it was a life-changing experience
for me. I learned so much about the world and about myself,” said Dr. Henderson. “I
would love to see that students have the opportunity to serve internationally and
immerse themselves in another culture. Peace Corps is the opportunity of a lifetime
to do that.”

SSU is one of only a select few universities in the nation to offer this program,
which was developed through a cooperative agreement between SSU and the Peace Corps.
SSU Peace Corps Prep curriculum includes course work in international studies, cross-cultural
skills, foreign language and four core focus areas emphasized by the Peace Corps (agriculture
and food security, education, environment and natural resources and global health).
In addition to course work, the program involves community service, international
student mentoring and cross-cultural experience.

The SSU Peace Corps Prep Program is open to students of all majors. Students can apply
any time before their junior year but are encouraged to apply as early as possible
to meet the program requirements before graduation. Students completing the program
earn recognition that will appear on their transcript. Although the completion of
the program does not guarantee applicants to be accepted as Peace Corps volunteers,
the specialized curriculum and experience make them strong candidates.